Two years ago the Hull Daily Mail reported that CS Wind was seeking to establish a base in Hull as part of the Green Port Hull project. Now, Councillor Stephen Parnaby has revealed that a formal announcement confirming the move will be made sometime this week.
Siemens recently announced its intention to invest £160 million (190 million euros) in wind turbine production and installation facilities in Yorkshire. The revised plan will be spread across two sites comprising the Green Hull port project, a construction, assembly and service facility, and a new rotor blade manufacturing facility in Paull, East Riding. Siemens partner in the project, Associated British Ports (ABP), is investing a further £150 million in the planned development. This in turn will provide a huge boost to both the UK offshore wind industry and the economy of the Humber region. Up to 1,000 jobs could be created directly with additional jobs during construction and in the supply chain.
“This is a massive vote of confidence in our long-term economic plan” said Prime Minister David Cameron. “This investment is going to create lots of new jobs and opportunities, meaning more financial security and peace of mind for families and a more resilient economy for our country.”
The development will be the first manufacturing plant of its kind for Siemens next generation IntegralBlade technology designed for Siemens SWT-6.0-154 6 megawatt (MW) wind turbine. Each rotor blade is 75 metres long and when rotating covers an area the size of two and a half football pitches.
“Our decision to construct a production facility for offshore wind turbines in England is part of our global strategy: we invest in markets with reliable conditions that can ensure that factories can work to capacity” said Michael Suess, member of the managing board of Siemens AG and CEO of the Energy Sector. “The British energy policy creates a favourable framework for the expansion of offshore wind energy. In particular, it recognizes the potential of offshore wind energy within the overall portfolio of energy production.”
Siemens and ABP will be submitting planning applications to Hull City Council and East Riding Council over the next few months for revisions to the existing proposed scheme at Alexandra Dock and for land in Paull in East Riding for the wind turbine blade factory. Green Port Hull is expected to be operational by early 2016 with full production reached from mid-2017 onwards.
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